Symposium Summary: Fisheries Management from the Great Lakes to the Gulf: Sea Grant’s Role in Research, Outreach, and Building Partnerships along the Mississippi River

Sponsor: AFS Estuaries Section

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Sea Grant, this symposium sponsored by AFS Estuaries Section focused on inter-jurisdictional management issues along the Mississippi River and the research and outreach contributions made by Sea Grant programs and partners. Louisiana Sea Grant Director Robert Twilley and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Director Brian Miller gave co-keynote presentations for this symposium that detailed the connection between the natural and social systems from the catchment to the coast of the Mississippi River Basin and how we can work collaboratively to address basin-wide issues.  They set the charge on exploring opportunities for future partnerships in the region. Subsequent presentations by panelists focused on new tools and practices revolving around aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention efforts, Ohio Sea Grant’s Clean Marinas Program to enhance environmental stewardship in the recreational boating industry, and efforts to strengthen agricultural producer investment in natural resource and ecosystem protection to address nutrient movement and water quality issues throughout the Mississippi River Basin. The session organizers plan to build on the momentum established in Kansas City and explore opportunities for future partnerships between Sea Grant and its partners in the region to address Mississippi River basin-wide issues. Read the abstracts here.

—Matthew Bethel, Louisiana Sea Grant, and Jay Beugly, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant